ADAMS TWP — Will Bednar is a household name now in Western Pennsylvania.

A fastball that routinely touches the mid-90s will do that for a high school pitcher. So will a 0.69 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 51 innings.

Those gaudy numbers Bednar put up during his junior season at Mars has opened up other doors for the right-handed pitcher.

Bednar will compete in the East Coast Pro Showcase in Hoover, Ala., early next month. That showcase is run by Major League Baseball scouts and features the best high school players in the eastern part of the country.

“I'm very excited,” Bednar said. “This is a great opportunity to work out in front of a bunch of pro scouts.”

Bednar had to attend a tryout for the showcase, which was held in Cincinnati in early June.

Pine-Richland catcher Matt Wood was also selected for the East Coach Pro Showcase.

Bednar, who has already committed to Ohio State, will be playing for the Royals, a team at the showcase run by one of Kansas City's top scouts.

Several current MLB players, such as Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola, have competed at the showcase.

That's the ultimate objective for Bednar this summer: get noticed on a national level and set himself up for the MLB draft next summer.

“That's the big goal,” Bednar said. “I'm definitely trying to get out and get myself seen by scouts.”

It's made for some long road trips so far this summer — with more to come.

“But it's a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing,” said Mars baseball coach Andy Bednar, who is also Will's father.

Last year, Mars catcher Jack Anderson was selected for the showcase.

Will Bednar picked Anderson's brain about the event.

“I remember when he first got back, he told me about how much funs it was,” Bednar said. “He said it was a cool experience.”

Bednar hasn't rested on his big junior campaign. Heading into his senior season, Bednar has spent the summer so far playing for the Pittsburgh Diamond Dawgs as well as honing his skills and adding strength.

“I've been doing a lot of lifting — we did some lifting during the season, too,” Bednar said. “I'm just trying to get stronger and working hard.”

On the heels of his appearance at the East Coast Pro Showcase, which will be held Aug. 1-4, Bednar will take part in the Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif.

The Area Code Games, which begin Aug. 6, feature 220 of the best high school baseball players in the country.

Bednar will be playing for the Yankees there.

The trip also provides the Bednars the opportunity to see David play.

David Bednar is in the San Diego Padres organization with Lake Elsinore, about a 90-minute drive from Long Beach.

“We're planning on going to see him,” Will Bednar said. “That will be fun.”

So will the showcases — a chance for Will Bednar to spread his name across the continent.

“It's just going to be great competing against the best players in the country,” Bednar said. “I'm really pumped up and looking forward to showing what I can do.”